Senior finance major RandeeK (pronounced Randee-Kay) McPherson recently spoke to Professor Ivan Hudson’s Insurance 3324 class about her lessons learned and how she secured a full-time job months before she is set to graduate in May 2024. McPherson credited her time spent at events like UCA Career Fairs, which helped her make the right connections to find internships. [Read more…]
Senior Finance Major RandeeK McPherson Shares How She Secured a Full-Time Job Months Before Graduation
Dr. Joe Cangelosi Shares His 35+ Years of Experience Through Teaching & Research
Dr. Joe Cangelosi, Professor of Marketing, shares about his research, advice for students, and what brings him the most enjoyment as a Professor.
Why did you choose marketing?
I am a market researcher by trade, being in the MR industry for 5 years before going back to get a doctorate in marketing, so I could be a university professor.
What have you studied in your research?
I have studied the Marketing & Distribution of Preventive Health Care (PHC) information. I have been publishing in the area for 20+ years, finding new niches to focus my efforts. I have learned the demographics, activities, behaviors, social media tendencies of PHC consumers, across generational cohorts. I’m always looking for another publication opportunity in a good health care marketing journal.
What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?
1. Work hard in school so you can determine what your special gifts are.
2. Don’t be overburdened with hours on a job while in school; work the hours necessary to survive; don’t be buying new cell phones or a new car or buying too much of anything; just get through school with some good grades so you have the skills and grades to be competitive in the job market once you graduate. Students should heed my advice based on my 35+ years of teaching, research and consulting; I have a good feel for what it takes for students to succeed. [Read more…]
UCA’s Online CIS Business Analysis program Ranked #11 in Nation by AnalyticsDegrees.org
AnalyticsDegrees.org has ranked UCA’s Online BBA in Computer Information Systems: Business Analysis program #11 overall in a comprehensive assessment of all online bachelor’s degrees in business analytics in the country. This ranking recognizes the program’s unique educational value to business analytics students.
Computer Information Systems combines the business profession with modern computer technology. CIS graduates are prepared to work in many capacities, depending on desire and the courses chosen. Graduates work as developers (programmers), database or network administrators, analysts of all kinds, security experts, project managers, and other roles that combine business with technology. The Business Analysis Concentration focuses on data analytics or using data to help managers make wiser decisions. There are multiple courses and focus areas for students to choose from, including data visualization, data mining, predictive analytics, prescriptive analytics, and using Python for analytics.
AnalyticsDegrees.org, a business and data analytics education website, applies our thorough rankings methodology to all online business analytics programs in the country. Their analysis includes multiple factors, from program quality and price to reputation and student outcomes, accreditation status, academic focus, delivery format, and external awards. Next, they assess program costs to determine its accessibility. Finally, they consider the program’s history of successfully graduating business analytics students. Programs that perform well in all areas earn a placement in the rankings.
Student Spotlight: Kamryn Glover
NAME: Kamryn Glover
CLASS: Junior
MAJOR: Accounting
MINOR: Data Analytics
UCA Peer Coach
Accounting Tutor
COB Ambassador
Volunteer
Works part-time
What did you choose your major?
I chose it because I’m very interested in math and learning about how accounting is the “Language of Business.”
What do you want to do after graduation?
Receive my Masters in Accountancy and my CPA license
Why did you choose to be a COB Student Ambassador?
I applied to become an ambassador because I’m always looking for ways to give back to my support system that I’m fortunate to have at the College of Business. Many of my professors do everything they can to ensure my success, and I feel as if it’s my duty to give back to them as much as I can.
COB Alumnus & Advisory Board Member Named Among Arkansas Business 40 under 40
Congratulations to Mr. Drew Gainor, CEO at Catalyst Financial, for his recognition in this year’s list of “40 under 40” by Arkansas Business. Among the many for reasons his inclusion in this year’s class, Mr. Gainor is significant to the University of Central Arkansas as a College of Business 2012 graduate and a College of Business Advisory Board member.
UCA President, Dr. Houston Davis; Ms. Haley Fowler, Senior Director in UCA Advancement; Ms. Jaime Briggs, Senior Director in UCA Advancement; Honoree Mr. Drew Gainor; UCA Board of Trustees member, Mr. Jim Rankin Jr.; UCA College of Business Dean, Dr. Michael Hargis.
Arkansas Business honored this year’s class at a luncheon on June 13 at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. The annual list recognizes 40 people under the age of 40 who are making a significant impact on their companies, organizations, and communities.
Mr. Gainor thanked his mentor Mr. Jim Rankin who is a real estate developer, UCA Board of Trustees member, and community leader; Gainor also shared an important lesson he learned growing up.
“My first job was selling auto parts at the age of 9 in my home country of Honduras. I learned to appreciate all my blessings and to keep things in perspective. I learned that hard work is always a formula that leads to better things.”
Mr. Gainor’s Top Professional achievements
• Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals Best in State
• Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Business Executive of the Year, 2020
• Million Dollar Roundtable Top of the Table Advisor
Read more about Mr. Gainor’s recognition by Arkansas Business.
Team of Business Students Win National Case Competition for Climate Solution
Congratulations to business students Michael Isaac, Caitlyn Bellamy, Mason Smith, and Jayce Burney, led by Dr. Louisa Moseley, who recently won first place in the “Up to Us” national competition for their submission entitled, “Aligning Fiscal and Climate Policy.” The team will present at the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement meeting in Boston later this month.
The team’s policy proposal focused on the problem of methane emissions from landfills coupled with a lack of recycling. They proposed a landfill tax on business to incentivize a reduction in waste while increasing federal revenue. The funds from this tax would be used to fund infrastructure and innovation for climate initiatives, as well as reduce the national debt.
Up to Us is dedicated to building a sustainable economic and fiscal future for America’s next generation and is the only nationwide, campus-based campaign focused on engaging and empowering students to build a sustainable economic and fiscal future. Up to Us leaders are aware of the importance of fiscal and economic issues, and work to advocate for changes in their communities and beyond. Colleges and universities across the country are engaged through impactful, creative campaigns that highlight the importance of addressing the national debt and other fiscal issues for America’s future generations.
The TOP 5 TEAMS from our 2023 Case Competition
First Place Team Spring 2023
– University of Central Arkansas: Aligning Fiscal and Climate Policy
Teams 2-5 Spring 2023 (Ranked Alphabetically)
– Slippery Rock University: Improving US Healthcare: Affordable & Effective Care
– Slippery Rock University: Promoting Effective & Fiscally Responsible Climate Policy
– Slippery Rock University: Rethinking Higher Education: A Path to Reform
– William & Mary: Innovative Clean Energy Standard Policy
Students Honored for Work With Community Tax Assistance Program
Congratulations to Harris Felton and Kiadan Zheng for winning university-level service awards for their work in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program this spring (students pictured at left with UCA College of Business Dean Michael Hargis).
Professor Ashley Phillips oversees and coordinates UCA’s annual involvement with VITA through the United Way of Central Arkansas. This tax season, students completed 329 tax returns, helped taxpayers claim $357,549 in refunds, and saved taxpayers approximately $60,000 in tax preparation fees.
The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.
College of Business Names Its 2022-2023 Outstanding Students
In its annual awards banquet, the College of Business celebrated its Outstanding Students of the 2022-2023 academic year. The awards given celebrate one student who stood out this year in each academic program and recognized student organization. Students recognized have optimized their education by combining exemplary academic performance with internships, volunteerism, professional development, experiential education, and participation in clubs and other important experiences. See the all of the full resolution photographs.
ACADEMIC AWARDS
- Outstanding Undergraduate Student of the Year – Will Biernat
- Outstanding General Business Student – Jose Castro
- Outstanding Undergraduate Accounting Student – Daniel Wheeler
- Outstanding Master of Accountancy Student – Jake Harris
- Outstanding Information Systems Student – Kevin Groce
- Outstanding Computer Information Systems Student – Sian Fox
- Outstanding Cybersecurity Management Student – Joshua Andrews
- Outstanding Data Analytics Student – Maralgua Gansukh
- Outstanding Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics Student – Brandy Bryant
- Outstanding Economics Student – Takahito Orr
- Outstanding Finance Student – Jake DeBusk
- Outstanding Insurance & Risk Management Student – Will Biernat
- Outstanding Management Student – Alli Snodgrass
- Outstanding Marketing Student – Delwin Portillo-Orellana
- Outstanding Innovation & Entrepreneurship Student – Lauren Martin
- Outstanding Logistics & Supply Chain Management Student – Peyton Tolliver
- Outstanding Human Resources Management Student – Lauren Vrazel
- Outstanding Master of Business Student – Kolby Johnson
SERVICE AWARDS
- Outstanding Biz@Bear Student of the Year – Mason Smith
- Outstanding COB Student Ambassador – Amaya Whitmore
- Outstanding Beta Alpha Psi Student – Kaidan Zheng
- Outstanding Accounting Club Student – Carson Griffin
- Outstanding Gamma Iota Sigma Club Student – WIll Biernat
- Outstanding Bears for Advancing Supply Chain & Operations Management (BASCOM) Student – Peyton Tolliver
- Outstanding Phi Beta Lambda Student – Kaddie Bailey